175 of the 5,000 mugs featuring Hitler’s profile were sold before anyone noticed a problem (Picture: EPA/OLIVER KRATO)

A German furniture shop has been left red-faced after accidentally selling pretty floral mugs featuring an English poem about roses and a photograph of Adolf Hitler’s head.

Due to a manufacturing error, the Nazi dictator (and a swastika) appeared on faded Third Reich stamps printed on all of the 5,000 coffee cups in a series being sold by the Zurbrueggen chain for 1.99 Euro each (£1.65).

The store’s CEO has apologised and recalled the offending cups, but 175 were sold to unsuspecting tea-drinkers before the factory fault was discovered.

The picture of the Third Reich stamp featuring Hitler’s face appeared on the mug due to a factory error (Picture: AP)

One buyer told local paper Neue Westfälische Post that she ‘could not believe her eyes’ when she noticed Hitler sitting on her breakfast table.

The 4,825 unsold mugs are to be destroyed, and the shop has offered a 20 Euro (£16.50) gift certificate to anyone who returns one.